Hi everyone,
This (obvious for some) is the first playable screen in Space Quest 2. I am trying to make a SQ2 VGA Remake which of course requires VGA or better backgrounds. I am trying to make it look the same but diferent. ??? Ok let me explain. I want to have the same items, theme in the backgrounds but I don't want to stuff it up. Any help?
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/SQ1.gif)
Image removed by Farsight
P.S I know I shouldn't have posted here until I had done at least something but I honestly don't know what.
I, don't get what's different? ??? ??? ???
Nothing, thats why I need some C&C!
Do you know Tierra's SQ2 demo (http://sqfp.sq7.org/sq2demo.zip)?
(http://www.strazer.net/ags/sq2tierra.gif)
:o :o :o :o
No way!!!
Did they actually make a SQ2 VGA demo?
Do you think I could use those backgrounds and where can I get the demo from?
Yep, it's a 3 room demo, I've provided the link above.
I think the remake is just on hold officially, but why don't you ask them: http://www.agdinteractive.com/
Man those are some good graphics!!!
Do you know who did them. I really need to make contact with him.
The Anonomous Game Developer guys did. Basically, Tierra. Don't bother asking them if you can have what they had gotten done before the project went kablooie. They don't give away any open source stuff. And just about all the guys who were working on SQ2 before are busy with some other project now. Sorry. You're on your own.
Farsight.. As far as I see it, you just ripped Screenies from SQ2 and are asking people to paint over them for you or copy them into a VGA? What exactly have you done to get towards this goal yourself? You can't be spoonfed if you're gonna make a repectable game.
TikiTikiMan if you could teach me how to upgrade backgrounds to VGA that would be much appreciated! :D Or if you have some other backgrounds that would help. Also what drawing program did you use. I only have PSP, Paint and ArtGem which is shareware so you can't save. If you do contribute I will be sure to put your name in the credits.
I don't think you get the purpose of this particular forum. Critic's Lounge is for you to post your *own* work that others can critisize, comment on, and give advice for. Just posting an already existing background and asking others to help you make them better is going to make you unpopular real quick.
I believe there's a thread in this forum with links to quite a few tutorials. Check 'em out, see what you can do on your own. When you've acheived the highest quality you can on a given background, THEN come back here, post it, and ask for advice.
Farsight, you can save with ArtGem, just find version 1.2 somewhere! Newer ones have nag screens and saving disabled. By playing a little with computer date you also can increase expiration period length, like for 10 years :D
Yellow is a Flavor:
I posted here because I was in real need of getting a handle on changing EGA to VGA graphics. I checked out most of the art tutorials and they're all really useless.
InCreator:
I did expand the time period (by ten years) but because it is SHAREWARE I can only SAVE in ARTGEM format not like gif, bmp, png etc. If anyone can tell me where I can get ArtGem v.1.2 it would be much appreciated.
The main part of making EGA style into (S)VGA is that its pretty much like making your own artwork. Basically all you're doing is using the outlines from the original, and adding completely new details. Mostly you can't even use the same colors. I agree that most of the tutorials are useless, or specialize in a particular style that does not fir a Sierra remake. I think theres one over at m0ds' site that describes how they made thier great BGs, that might help you.
Now, this may sound like a stupid queston (or not) but why is it important to use ArtGem? I, for one, have never heard of it. There are lots of good programs that are cheap, and some (such as Gimp) that are free. Gimp is supposed to be great.
Yea ok, I'll try out Gimp but last time I think the download failed? Mabye not anyway I'm going to download it now.
EDIT: Did a 'quick' redo in ArtGem... told you I suck.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Remake.gif)
I'll tell you gentle before someone do it harshy... This is just the original image with a change of colours... What can we criticise???
I mean...Ã, ???
IMO you shold resize the image, and in a new layer start to paint a more smooth outlines, that huge pixels were ok when SQ was originally released, but not now, imo...
I've done this very hurriedly in about ten minutes, but you want to be trying something like this (but more detailed and with far more time taken over it):
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/paintoversq.gif)
Use the original as a template and draw your own graphics on top. If you don't know how to draw well in a VGA style, then spend some time studying other people's work and using tutorials before you attempt a VGA remake. Okay!
:o :o Not bad at all. Thanks all, if you can recommend any tutorials that would really help. Yes that was just a change of colours... :-[ :-[
EDIT: I got Gimp down and it is sooooo confusing. I still don't know how to VGA graphics. You all seem to have great ideas and pics but they have gradients / textures and I don't know how you did it or what program you used.
Gimp is not too difficult to use... And I think that there are some good tutorials out there (just search google or the forums here), but they ususally require you not just to read them, but to try and experiment also!
Also: Take some time for it! I know no tutorial that will present you with all the knowledge you need in just 10 minutes...
And anyway I think all the guys who have posted their images here took a LONG time to become as good as they are now... Just keep on trying!
Here's a method you can follow if you're interested:
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/paintoversq2.gif)
Some of these steps are specific to this image, but I'm sure they could be adapted for a different style.
1. Replace walls with flat colour, and smooth objects with a gradient describing their shape.
2. Use a brush like the one floating in the sky in the 2nd image to add texture. You can do this by making the brush darken or brighten the image, or by choosing painting with colours slightly lower and higher than the wall's colour. You'll have to ask someone else how this is done in Gimp though.
3. Draw cracks, dents and erosion with a line drawing tool using light and dark lines. The lines should have anti-aliasing set on, to make them smoother.
4. Sketch out panneling with slightly darker lines.
5. Make panelling look 3D by adding highlights where the light is coming from.
6. Use a mask to capture all the areas of your picture that are to be in shadow (If you want sharp shadows) then lower the brightess in those regions.
7. Adjust the contrast to get the look you want.
8. Add details with small brushes and line tools, remembering your light source. Anti aliasing should be on here to make objects blend better with their background. Just drawing the image and blurring it will not look as nice.
Hope that's helpful.
Farsight,
Updating a game from EGA to VGA graphics takes time, patience and a lot of courage! You must first learn to use your paint programs effectively - learn about using layers, colors, transparancy and shading. This is really all trial and error stuff. I taught myself by reading many of the tutorials I found here, although many of them don't fit the Sierra style. Using light and shade, dodge and burn helps bring out the style you want.
Tierra/AGDI uses a lot of "collaging" in their images; they take pieces of original Sierra VGA art, ripped from the games, to make new images, using the clone tool and cutting and pasting. You should perhaps try to assemble a plethora of backgrounds from SQ1VGA and SQ4 to see the kind of "style" you should go for in the creation of your backgrounds.
There is no SIMPLE way to "convert" EGA to VGA. It has to be rethought and redrawn, and it takes LOTS of time to gain any proficiancy at it. But given the right amount of grit, you can do it.
NOW - how to rip backgrounds from the game? You can either use PrntScrn to capture the background from the game itself, and paste it into a program and edit it, or find a program called SCI Studio. Use google, GOOGLE is your friend.
No one is gonna do it for ya, and unfortuantly, it isn't easy. But it's rewarding when you get good at it.
Hope this helps some.
Bt
Infamous Adventures
http://www.infamous.iconrate.net/forums
Ali.. You make it look too easy :(
Ali:Thanks for your help. I'll definently try it out.
Blackthorne519:That's ehat I've been doing so far, PrntScn and then replacing the character with colours. ???Works for me.
Thanks all for the advice. I quess I just have to keep trying.
Quote from: Farsight on Tue 11/05/2004 19:58:21
Ali:Thanks for your help. I'll definently try it out.
Blackthorne519:That's ehat I've been doing so far, PrntScn and then replacing the character with colours. ???Works for me.
Thanks all for the advice. I quess I just have to keep trying.
Farsight, what I meant is rip backrgrounds from SQ4 and SQ1 VGA..... use them as ideas and basis for collaging. That's what Tierra does.
Oh. :-[Thats kind of what I meant.
EDIT: Oh I give up!! I can't even get a decent picture out of the long time I put in. Unless I can get a more amateur tutorial.... I think I'm stumped. BTW I'm using ArtGem v.1.2
I read somewhere that there is a GIMP program called JrGIMP or something that is an easier freeware program. Parhaps you should try that first so that you get used to the GIMP environment.
If you want to learn how to make a good looking background there is no shortcut I'm afraid. There is only practise that helps.
My suggestion is that you try to make a copy of the image in the tutorial that Ali made here. Go step by step (don't copy and paste his work, but do try to copy his work with your own skill) ones you are happy with the result you can try the other areas of the background and then you might even feel confident to try to make improvements.
Thanks googlebox. I'll try that. Do you know where I can download JrGimp from?
Ok I tried your advice Ali and came up with this:
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/SQ1mod2.gif)
I know it sucks but it's the best I could do.
EDIT: Whoops I double posted.....Darn!
sorry I think I have to take that back. I think JrGIMP is for debian users only I'm afraid. Maybe someone has some news about this?
/googlebox
Ok thanx anyway! :D
Quote from: Farsight on Thu 13/05/2004 09:06:55
Ok thanx anyway! :D
remove the red outlining on the forground objects and change it to a grey colour, add some stars too, and remove the lighter coloured 'scratches' on the inside of the 'dock'(?)
Here you go:
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/SQ1mod3.gif)
What do you think?
mmm... I should go for a totally black space... (and the stars, of course)
You could allways make a milky way with some blue or magenta tones... As a reference, maybe any screenshot of X-Wing would work.
lost the gradient and make it all black, afterall, space is as black as it comes.
Yes ... make the space background black (or a really deep blue).
When I first looked at it I got the impression that the foreground elements were actually cutting off the bottom of the space station thing and you were seeing the continuation of space at the bottom.
Actually space has no colour... its vast emptiness gives it a black appearance.
You could use this image: http://www.tdrdesign.net/images/spacefield.gif and copy a part of it, any part of the whole file and then use that as the space backdrop.
Heres an example:
(http://www.tdrdesign.net/images/SQ1mod2.gif)
What I did was change the hue and saturation of the background so it had more of a blue tint to it, and then added the black part from down the bottom to the top as you still had the old AGI menu up there, and then of course, I added the starfield to the background. I would have went through and added some detail to the background itself, but I'm in a rush... :)
Also, changed the background so it is 320x200, as having that backgroun at 640x400 is just a bad idea as its like over 4 times bigger than it originally was. :P
You've certainly improved, Farsight. Elaborate on DM's update and you'll do good.
DM's update? ???
Quote from: Os à šltimo Quão Queijo ^_^ on Thu 13/05/2004 22:02:44
Actually space has no colour... its vast emptiness gives it a black appearance.
Black isn't a colour, so it's pretty obvious space has no colour ;D ;)
--Erwin
Quote from: Os à šltimo Quão Queijo ^_^ on Thu 13/05/2004 22:10:16DM's update? ???
Take it as a compliment ;)
But I like your update
Os à šltimo Quão Queijo ^_^.
It's amazing how much better it makes it look!
Farsight - Add in space like that ... it makes a world of difference!
Quote from: Erwin_Br on Thu 13/05/2004 23:26:13
Quote from: Os à šltimo Quão Queijo ^_^ on Thu 13/05/2004 22:02:44
Actually space has no colour... its vast emptiness gives it a black appearance.
Black isn't a colour, so it's pretty obvious space has no colourÃ, ;DÃ, ;)
--Erwin
Black absorbs all colors and since space is empty with no particles to absorb color , no light is reflected to your eyes and space remains colorless .
You could say white is all colors but none at all and black is no color and yet all of them at once. Since white reflects all colors so you see white and black absorbs all colors but you dont see the colors.
Quote from: Karimi on Fri 14/05/2004 06:11:41
Black absorbs all colors and since space is empty with no particles to absorb color , no light is reflected to your eyes and space remains colorless .
You could say white is all colors but none at all and black is no color and yet all of them at once. Since white reflects all colors so you see white and black absorbs all colors but you dont see the colors.
In the immortal words of Homer Simpson...
I like stories... ;D
I DON"T KNOW WHY YOU HAVE TO BE SO TECHNICAL. (Even though I am :))
But thanks for all your advice. I will try to improve some more.
Hm, Farsight, as Flavor suggested in the beginning of this thread, you've slightly misunderstood the purpose of this forum.
Luckily, the thread turned out pretty educational and constructive anyway.
Just remember you can't start a thread here every time you want people to do a background for you. If I were you, I'd have started way more basic, and learnt how to draw my own simple backgrounds, before trying to remake another game. That is just too hard. And ripping somebody else's graphic is certainly not the answer.
Ultimo and some other people have done a very good work so far, though.
That's true, it's a good idea to draw backgrounds from scratch but on the other hand, it's also great practice drawing over other backgrounds. You learn what kind of colors the great artists have used and stuff like that.
Agree with both Andail and Pessi. Good thing with "remaking" backgrounds is, that you have already layed down composition, perspective and basic colors... so it is quite easier to start with.
On the other hand, i'm against drawing-over method (when you are learning, that is... later, all experiments can be useful), as this gives you a false feeling you are better at drawing than you really are. When in college, we had to repaint a few paintings of classic artists, but it wasn't really "draw over", as we only had a small photo of painting and had to paint a bigger version of it. That was a great learning experience, as you had to figure out what artist did by yourself and not just copy it.
Yeah, that sounds like a great experiment. I've done a couple of portrait paintings by just having the picture there as a reference somewhere on the side and get the colors right by myself. You sometimes don't have the same colors really, even though it looks practically the same. Colors are all relative.
I didn't really do anything... i could go over what i did and add detail to whoever did the picture i copied into photoshop and added stuff too... but i've been drinking a bit, and it probably wouldn't turn out that good... :P
Are there any specific improvements you think need doing?
(http://82.210.89.171/~jwar/SQ1.jpg)
Just thought I'd have a go, after reading the how-to in this thread... whaddayathank?
QuoteJust thought I'd have a go, after reading the how-to in this thread... whaddayathank?
That's good....very good. What do you mean by the 'how-to' part of this thread.
I meant the posts in the beginning of the thread explaining how the making of such a screen should be tackled.
You used too many photoshop filters in my opinion. :-\
That's a nice image JWar, I like the way you've tackled the light.
Nevertheless, I agree with the previous post. Drawing your own textures using a range of brush shapes is far preferable to using filters. It gives you full control over the image, avoids problems with perspective (as on the left wall), and saves the backdrop from the 'cookie-cut' look that filters often result in.
I can't make backgrounds as good as you can because I don't have Photoshop and am quite inexperienced so all your backgrounds seem really good to me. I have to admit, that background is really good but the only thing I don't agree with is the blurred 'airlock' thing. You all seem to have really good ideas though.